Mona Anderson
The City of North Platte and Keep North Platte & Lincoln County Beautiful are pleased to announce that new user-friendly recycling drop off bins are finishing their final touches to be placed around the community. There are currently 7 drop off locations around North Platte which are available to the public 24 hours a day.
The items received in the bins will not change. Each is equipped with 8 compartments holding tin, aluminum, mixed paper, newspapers/magazines and plastic #1 & #2. Larger cardboard receptacles will be available at each location. You can visit the website www.keepnorthplattebeautiful.org/recycling for information on items accepted. A QR code is also printed on each bin that directs you to the website.
The engineering, fabrication and graphics were all done locally. The upgraded features include lower to the ground openings, doors that are easy to operate, graphics that promote North Platte, and clear concise labeling on items accepted in each compartment. Bin labels are created by Recycle Across America which convey a clear message about recyclables accepted. The overall goal is to increase recycling rates and decrease contamination of recyclable materials.
“We have worked on this project for a few years now,” said Mona Anderson, Executive Director of Keep North Platte & Lincoln County Beautiful. “It is exciting to see it almost completed.” Anderson reported that there are still some graphics that need to be placed on the bins before they are functional, but hopes that within the next few weeks the bins will be phased in.
The City of North Platte invested considerable time and money into the bin construction. A small grant was received to help with the graphic expense from the Nebraska Recycling Council and Nebraska Environmental Trust. Steve Mentzer, Public Service Director stated, “We really wanted to see North Platte have a successful recycling program and be at the forefront of bin development. With the recycling markets becoming less accessible, and our landfills stretched, it is time to be proactive with increased, less contaminated recycling. The bins are an investment for our community that will serve us for the next generation.”
The next steps will include education, troubleshooting, and data collection to determine the effectiveness of bins. Samples will be taken, and bins will be monitored to collect data. Any questions can be directed to Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful at 308-534-8100 or by email at [email protected].